Evolution Flashcards
How do fossil records support evolution
They show how organisms have changed over time
How does the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria support the theory of evolution
It supports our understand of how advantageous traits are inherited by offspring
What are fossils and where can they be found ?
Remains of ancient organisms found in rocks
One way fossils form (parts of organims…)
Parts of organisms that will not decay easily like bones, shells and teeth, eventually get replaced by minerals. The minerals will form rocks with the same original shape. The surrounding sediment also turn to rock but the fossil will still be distinct from the rest of the rock
One way fossils form (soft material…)
Soft material like clay can harden around whole organisms, traces of organisms e.g. footprints, Burrows or rootlet traces forming a cast
One way fossils are formed (certain conditions..) and examples
When certain conditions are lacking, decay cannot happen and organisms are preserved. Examples include ice, peatbogs, Amber and tar pits
How do fossils that are found deeper in the soil support Darwin‘s theory of evolution?
They are generally from more simple organisms. It shows that all organisms evolved from these simple life forms
Why are fossil records incomplete?
Many early forms of life were softbodied so left very few traces behind and many of the fossils that were made have been destroyed by geological activity
What do evolutionary trees do?
They represent the relationship between different species over evolutionary time
When can you know that a speciation has occurred from a evolutionary tree?
The lines branch off
How can data to form evolutionary trees be found?
Fossil records and DNA sequences
What is the process where bacteria reproduces very quickly? And what does this mean
Binary fission. They evolve rapidly
Where do mutations often occur
In the dna of bacterial pathogens
What do some mutations lead to?
Changes in characteristics of the bacteria and may even cause the bacteria to become resistant to certain antibiotics
Why’s is antibiotic resistance very beneficial to the bacterial pathogen
It will not be killed by antibiotics, can reproduce a lot more and the population can grow
Why can antibiotic resistance cause big problems to humans?
The antibiotics that are used to treat people with bacterial infections will no longer longer work. This means infected people continue being ill and spread the disease disease to more people.
What is a superbug
A bacterial strain that is resistant to all known antibiotics
Why is the process of scientists trying to develop new antibiotics that bacterial strains are not resistant to not 100% ideal
They are expensive and slow
What should doctors avoid to prevent the evolving of antibiotic resistance
Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics e.g. in non serious infections or viral infections
What should doctors make sure the antibiotics do to prevent evolution of antibiotic resistance. How can they do this
Kill the bacterial pathogens so they do not mutate and develop resistance. Patients must complete the full course of antibiotics
When are antibiotics often used in farming
Preventing illness and increase growth rate
What does bacteria in animals lead to and why is it bad?
Developing resistance to the antibiotics if overused and these resistant strains can be passed to humans when meat is consumed.
What does using less antibiotics in farming help with
Reducing the amount of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains
